Spar Mystery!: Understanding The Hound of the Baskervilles Through Debate

Kindly note:
This is an ESL friendly class, CEFR  level — C1, C2 (Advanced)
Please feel free to write me via Outschool email with questions.
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SPARK CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THROUGH MYSTERIES!

Now is the time to use your essential skills of critical thinking and deduction with one of the finest detective mysteries ever written, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant The Hound of the Baskervilles!  Richly atmospheric and densely plotted, this has often been called the finest detective story ever written. It is also the perfect book to employ both the technique of Spar debating and to maximize critical thinking to learn to think like Sherlock Holmes himself. 

Each class in Spar Mystery will feature an introduction with games and mind puzzles based on the work of Maria Konnikova's Mastermind to give students the opportunity to further sharpen their critical thinking skills. Optional writing opportunities will be provided as well to give learners the opportunity both to enhance oral speaking abilities and explore creative writing. 

Spar Mystery follows the same format as my own Spar Lit Sr: Understanding Essays Through Speech and Debate and Spar Lit Sr: Understanding Short Stories Through Speech and Debate. 

Our 6-session class will focus on blending the acknowledged technique of Spar debating with understanding The Hound of the Baskervilles  through debate and discussion.  Spar means “SPontaneous ARgumentation” a quicktime technique that is used to prepare students for formal debate.  Our class will use Spar debating to explore dive deep into one of the finest mysteries in history,  No previous experience in speech or debate is necessary for full participation in this class. 

The result?  Students will learn to take a position on key issues involving intriguing literary questions, while gaining a nuanced and thorough understanding both sides of every issue. All students will gain an enhanced exploration of literature while expanding debate techniques. 

Spar Debate questions will focus on the literary aspect of each weekly reading from the book  and the Spar debates are evidence-based from the essays themselves.  The 30 minute discussion at the beginning of each session, guided by me, will allow all students to engage in productive discussion. Guidance will be given as to the parameters of Spar debating which are evidence-based not guided by emotional responses.

This class has been purposely limited to six students to maximize the participation of every learner.

Moreover, optional homework assignments have been created to support the learning in each and every class. Learners who choose to complete the optional assignments will receive immediate feedback. 

Spar is quick debate! With debaters given the Pro or Con position, a short Spar debate can illuminate ideas and provide for more nuanced critical thinking. 

Each ongoing class will run as follows:

5 minutes of general introduction

30 minutes of interactive discussion on the chapter or pages set for the class

20 minutes of ongoing Spar pro/con debate involving key literary questions from the weekly reading

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How does Spar debating work?

10 MINUTE MINI DEBATES!

Students face off to debate a Pro/Con question involving the specific reading from literature for the day.

COIN FLIP TO DETERMINE PRO/CON


Students have 1 minute to brainstorm ideas for their position (evidence/arguments)

1 minute
Pro students give a 1 minute opening statements to make their case (Con students listen quietly and takes notes)

1 minute
Con students give a 1 minute opening statement to make their case (Pro students listen quietly and take notes)

30 seconds
Everyone thinks!

2 to 3 minutes
Grand Crossfire discussion where all students can ask each other questions about opposing statements.

30 seconds
All  students think again to prepare their closing statements

30 seconds
Con students give a 30 second closing statement (Pro students listen quietly)

30 seconds
Pro students give a 30 second closing statement (Con students listens quietly

Class Plan
Week #1 The History of the Mystery
Week #2 Chapters 1-3
Week #3 Chapters 4-6
Week #4 Chapters 7-9
Week #5 Chapters 10-12
Week #6 Chapters 13-15